Felting apparatus



July 5, 1960 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,943,365

y FELTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 3, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illl" HAROLD Eme/50N BY Ro/:RT w RILEY DALE L.scHuBERT Tf 1 l JNVENTORS July 5, 1960 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,943,365

FELTING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 3, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 SMIL-l E xt 7 INVENTORS 'H HAROLD E. ER/cKso/v [.L By ROBERT nf. R/L EY DALE ESCHUBERT July 5, 1960 H. E. ERICKSON ET AL 2,943,365

4mmm: APPARATUS med Dec. 5, 195e '7 sheets-sheet' '3? INVENTORS HAROLD E. ERICKSON ROBERT W. R/L EY BY DALE L. SCHUBERT July 5, 1960 Filed Deo. 5, 1956 H. E ERICKSON ETAL FELTING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 HAROLD E ER/CKSON BY ROBERT W RILEY DALE L.SC`HUBERT July 5, 1960 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,943,365

FELTING APPARATUS INVENToRs HAROLD E. ERICKSON RBERT W. RILEY BY DA L E L.scHL/BERT July 5, 1960 H. E. ERlcKsoN ETAL 2,943,365

FELTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet. l

File'd DeC. 3, 1956 Lm. H N Y. www 2 T m SN, MKEM A 1 MT; W #www w E R. H oo/oo [E w DTL OOO R51. Oooooooooooo/ ,MMMM N v. B

July 5, 1960 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL FELTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 3, 1956 ...........H....W...HH...H HH.. F NVM, A

United States Patent 0 FELTING APPARATUS Harold E. Erickson, Auburn, Robert W. Riley, Milton, and Dale L. Schubert, Tacoma, Wash.; said Erickson and said Riley assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-sixth to said Schubert and three-sixths to Industrial Development Co., Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Dec. 3, 1956, Ser. No. 625,671

11 Claims. (Cl. 19h-155) This invention relates to felting apparatus for forming moist or dry fibrous material into a felt preliminary to pressing the felt into a consolidated product.

The herein described apparatus is applicable to the felting of a variety of fibrous materials, but is particularly applicable to the felting of particles of lignocellulose and is described herein with particular reference to that application although no limitation thereby is intended.

In making consolidated brous products such as composition boards, it is conventional practice to reduce wood and other lignocellulose to the form of small pieces, to mix the pieces with a resinous binder and size, and to form them into a felt. The latter then is consolidated to the desired density by the application of heat and pressure.

The properties of the felt prepared by the foregoing sequence of operations are of critical significance in determining the properties of the final consolidated product. If the felt is non-uniform in composition, thickf ness or density, this non-uniformity is reflected in the finished product. Control of felt uniformity is diicult of accomplishment when pieces of lignocellulose are felted, however, because of the irregularity in size and shape of the pieces, and their tendency to aggregate into clumps or oos,

Accordingly, it is the `general object of this invention to provide apparatus for forming small pieces of solid material into felts which are uniform in thickness and density and free from voids and which accordingly may be pressed into consolidated products of uniform properties.

Other objects of the present invention are the provision of felting apparatus which:

(l) Is readily adaptable for use in felting pieces of various shapes and sizes, particularly hard to felt, bulky pieces; 1

(2) May be used to felt pieces of material characterized by pronounced tendency to form clumps;

(3) May be applied to the production of felts of a wide range of predetermined thicknesses;

(4) Is provided with an accurate running adjustment for control of felt thickness; v

(5) Forms a felt wherein the pieces are interlocked and interfelted with consequent high strength of the felt and the consolidated product made therefrom;

(6) Can be operated with a minimum of spillage;

(7) Produces a felt having a uniform, smooth surface.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings; wherein:

Fig. l is a general view in side elevation of the presently described felting apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a detail View in `side elevation of the particle distributing component of the apparatus of Fig. 1 which is applied to the formation of a preliminary mat or felt;

i'atenfed July s, 1960 Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the particle distributing apparatus of Fig. 2;

Fig. v4 lis a detail view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a brush assembly which may be used in the particle distributing apparatus of Figs. 2-4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation further illustrating the construction of the brush assembly shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation View taken along line 7 7 of Fig. 1 and illustrating a leveling unit employed for leveling the primary mat formed by the distributing unit of Figs. 2-6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View further illustrating the leveling apparatus of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of a felting unit employed in building up a second felt from the leveled felt built up by the units of the preceding figures;

Fig. l0 is a plan View of the felting unit of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a detail sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10 and illustrating the construction of one of the particle distributing units of the felting unit of Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. l2 is a View looking along line 12-12 of Fig.` l1 and further illustrating the construction of the particle distributing element of that figure;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view in elevation taken along line 13-13 of Fig. l and showing the construction of a leveling unit employed for leveling the felt laid down by the felting unit of Figs. 9-12; and

Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation of the leveling unit of Fig. 13.

Generally stated, the felting apparatus of our invention comprises first conveyor means, distributing means positioned for distributing small pieces of fibrous material on the first conveyor means, felting means positioned adjacent the first conveyor means for receiving pieces discharged therefrom, and second conveyor means positioned adjacent the felting means for receiving pieces discharged therefrom, thereby building a felt of the pieces on the second conveyor means.

In the foregoing general combination, the two conveying means may be synchronized to operate at the same speed so that the deposits of pieces formed thereon are built up to substantially the same thickness. Also, leveling means are preferably associated with both the V ently described felting apparatus.

posited pieces thereon.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1 illust-rates the general arrangement of the pres A first or upper conveying unit is indicated generally at 20. Distributing means for distributing pieces of solid material on the conveying means is indicated generally at 22. Leveling means for leveling the material deposited on the conveying means is indicated at 24.

'Ihe numeral 26 indicates generally Aa felting unit positioned for receiving the leveled material discharged from conveying unit 20. The felting unit forms a felt of the pieces on a second conveyor situated immediately below and indicated generally at 28. This felt is leveled by means of a leveling unit 30. These various units of the assembly are. considered in sequence below.

Y Y First conveyor The first conveying unit indicated generally at 20 in Fig. 1 includes an endless belt 32 mounted on an idler pulley 3,4,a'nd a driven pulley 36. ,The upper 'or working stretch' ofthe belt is supported by Vplate 38.V Deckel plates 40, 42are'stationed one on eachv side rof the1 belt extendinglongitudinally thereof for retaining material 3 deposited on the belt. As indicated at 44, 45 of Figs. l and `8, a section of each 'deckel plate is cut away 'and rabbeted for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

'Distributing -m't Means are provided for distributing pieces, offligno'- cellulosic-or other material 'on `belt 32 foi-forming a preliminary `mat 46 'thereon Various types of d1s1- ltributing units may be employed for this purpose. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. '1, the ldistributing means comprises a spout 48 which may swing back and 'forth across the width of belt 32, distributing mater1al across the surface thereof.

Preferred distributing means are illustrated in Figs. 2-6 inclusive. This distributing unit may bernoun'tecl vacross belt 32 in the saine position as 'is occupied vby `oscillating spout 48 of Fig. 1. It comprises an endless belt 50 suitably supported on bed plates 51 and mounted on idler pulley 52 and a driven pulley 54. Pulley 54 is connected through coupling 56 `(Fig/2) to -one shaft 57 of a conventional bevel gear boxStl.` 'lhe gear box in turn is coupled through coupling `60,to gear reducer 62 and this in turn is connected to a suitable motor '64.

Suitable means also are provided for delivering small pieces of material such as wood chips, shavings, liber, 4or 4granules to the infeed end of belt 50. Such means may comprise, for example, -a chute or hopper 66 through which the pieces are fed at 'the desired rate. After having been delivered to the belt, the pieces 'are moved toward the outfeed end, being conined between the notched longitudinal sid`e-plates 68, 69. I 4 Y p As the 4pieces reach the central portion vof thefbelt, opposite the notched or cutaway-portions `of sfidefplates 6869 they are acted upon bymeans for Vsweepingthem off belt 50 and distributing ithem on belt 32 'of Aconveying unit 2G, described above. The sweeping or 'brushing unit ,is keyed to-a central shaft 7 0 mounted'in bearings 4.72. `It comprises a sleeve 74'con`ne`dby means of co1- lars 76 and carrying a plurality of spokes 78. Y l

A'bru'shing assembly 80 is mounted on one -end o'f 4the spokes. A counter weight bar 82 which balances the brushing assembly is mounted-at lthe other end of the spokes.

The brush assembly is"vertically adjustable tocomp ensate for wear `and other factors and accordingly includes a first channel iron 84 which is welded to Athe spokes and a second channel member`8`6 djmensioned to telescope over the vfirst channel iron. Channel 8"6is,pro vided with 'spaced vertical slots `83. Bolts 90 work in the Aslots and are threadedr into channel 84. Accordingly Vthe relative position of the outer 'channel member 86 may be set as desired.

The brush assembly is completed by means of the elongated brush 92 which extends Vsubstantially the entire length of channel 86 and is suitably aflixed to the central segment thereof. It will 4be noted 4that the brush is substantially as long as belt 32 is wide 'and that it is positioned directly over the belt 32 soft'hat material swept from belt 50 by the brush will fall downwardly onto belt 32, being distributed across -its entire width betweenI deckels 40, 42.

Coupled to the brushing assembly is motor means synchronized with the drive belt 50so that 'the belt will be driven a distance equal to the length of brush 92 during the time that the 'brush makes on'e complete revolution. A suitable arrangement 'for achievingthis synchronization is illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus shaft 70 carries a sprocket 94 which `is connected thro/ugh chain 96 to a sprocket 98 carried by shaft 100 of bevel gear box 58. Accordingly both belt 540 andthe :brush assembly are driven synchronously from a-eommon motor 64.

Although the major proportionof material is swept from belt 50 by 'brush 92, any Asurplus-notv'rem'oved b'y the brush is carried `by the belt into `a chute 4102.. From the chute it is recirculated to the feeding source and may again be deposited on belt 50 through chute 66.

First leveling unit As has been indicated above, the material which has been deposited on belt 32 forms a loose felt 46 thereon. This felt is next leveled to provide a primary felt of uniform thickness which is suitable for introduction into the Vfelting unit of the assembly in order 'to supply y'a uniform feed thereto. The `leveling means employed Iare indicated generally at 24 in Fig. l and function :not only to level the mat but also 'to shave it off to any desired 'thickness while still confining it between deckel plates. The construction of this unit is illustrated particularly in Figs. 7 andS.

Stationed above the outfeed end of belt 32 is a torsion rod `jouraled in bearings 112 which are mounted on frame members 114. Collars 116 nare rigid tofrold '110 and nio'unt rigidly connecting `links 118. The latter Iin turn are fastened to bearingsfl'Zll lin 'w'h'ieh `is journaled fa shaft 122. This shaft carries ana'u'gei, the two halves 124, -126 of which work respectively toward Yopposite :s ide's of belt 32.

The auger shaft is powered through a linkage ineluding pulley 128keyed to the shaft, belt 130, pulleys 5132 and i134 which Aare keyed together and rotate freely on the end of torsion rod 110, belt 136 and pulley 13`8fon motor`140. It Awill lbe apparent that as the auger is drotated at the desiredfspeed, it will shave ofi'the top pieces Ifrom `'the mat on belt '32 and carry them toward the sides of the belt. AThere they are deposited in chutes 142, 144, which may return lthem to the feed source for recirculating through the apparatus.

YThe 'construction described above makes possible a `facile,`vertical, running adjustment of the auger, to en`- -able'the production 'of mats of any desired thickness `on belt `32. The elements included in lthe adjusting'as- 'sembly comprise the pinion Vgear 146 splined to thetor# sion rod 1110, `a rack 148 guided infguideway 1'49 enga ging the pinion Igear, a screw 150 coupled to the rack, an internally threaded sleeve l152 into which screw 1:50 is threaded, and a wheel 1S'4col'1pled to sleeve A1752, and lftsatably mounted in bearing 156 supported on bracket y Accordingly, rotation ofhand wheel 154 extends or retracts rack148 which rotates `torsion rod 110 in either a Clockwise "or a counterclockwise direction as yie'wed in *Figure 8. This in turn moves connecting links 118 angularly and raises or lowers auger shaft 122 to 'the desired position. i I Not only can the auger assembly be :raised or `lowered expeditiously while the apparatus is running, but 'the adjustment may be lmade without losing continuity of deckel. rTo make this possible, there are provided deckel sections r160, 162, which cooperate with deckels 40, 42, respectively. The deckel sections are provided with rabbeted edges 164, '166, which 'register with the vrabbeted edges 44, 45 of the deckels. Also, they carry tear'`shaped,`open, stub conduits 168, 170 vthrough which auger segments 124, 126, respectively, extend. The deckel section 'assemblies are fastened to andfsupported by hubs v172, `174. These in 'turn are keyed to 'torsion rod 110 in `such a manner that they maybe set at variable spacingsfrorn each other as required to vform mats of `predetermined widths on belt 32.

Hence'it will be evident that as the torsion bar turns 1n one direction or the other, it carries with it not only the auger assembly but also the 'deckel'sections sothat a continuity of deckel -is maintained while `still permitung discharge of the scalped material through'st'ub conduit 168, into chutes 142, 144.

T he felling un'it The 'leveled 'ma't of th'e desired thickness wh'ich has beenformed o'n `belt 32 is discharged 'over Vthe outfd end thereof onto the felting unit indicated generally at 26 in'Fig. 1. in greater detail in Figs. 9412 inclusive.

Thus the felting unit may comprise a pair of spaced longitudinally arranged side plates 180 formed with horizontal stiffening anges 182. The side plates are mounted through bearings 184 on a first transverse rod 186. This rod in turn is journaled in bearings 188 mounted on the ends of arms 190 and retained by collars 192. Arms 190 in turn are pivotally mounted at the base of the unit on shaft 19'4 journaled in bearings 196 carried by the lower ends of arms 190.

The other ends of side plates 180 are fixed to bearings 198 in which a shaft 200 is journaled. The outer ends of this shaft extend through bearings 202 carried by the upper end of arms 204. The lower ends of these arms carry bearings 206 in which shaft 208 is journaled. 'Ihe reciprocatable frame thus provided supportsl a plurality of substantially horizontal transverse plates 210, 212, 214 oset from each other, both horizontally and vertically, in a stepped, pyramidal arrangement, and aixed in a suitable manner to side plates 180.

The upper surfaces of plates 210, 212, 214 may carry a plurality of spaced batlies 216. These bales preferably are mounted for angular adjustment in the manner illustrated in Figs. 11 and l2. Thus the base of each baffle is pivoted centrally on a pin 218. A pair of bolts 220 penetrate the respective ends of the baille and also slots 222 in the portion of the horizontal base plate -immediately beneath. Hence by loosening the bolts, the batlles may be placed in any selected angular position and secured there by tightening the bolts.

Means are provided for reciprocating the felting unit rapidly. In the illustrated embodiment such means comprise a drive including connecting rods 224, having on their respective forward ends bearings 226 in which shaft 200 is journaled, and collars 228 securing the bearings on the shaft. The other ends of connecting rods 224 carry bearings 230, in which the shafts of eccentrics 232 are journaled. The eccentrics in turn are keyed to a drive shaft 234 mounted in bearings 236 and driven by apulley 238 keyed to the shaft and connected through belt 240 to motor 242.

Thus when the felting unit is reciprocated rapidly by motorV I242, the plates and baies thereon in aggregate form a cascade down both sides of which the pieces tumble after being introduced onto the top plate from belt 36. As the pieces tumble over and between the plates, they are separated from each other and distributed uniformly. Accordingly, they fall in a uniform How in felting relationship onto a second conveying unit.

Second conveying unit The second conveying unit is stationed below felting unit 26 and is indicated generally at 28 in Fig. 1. It includes 4an endless belt 250 reeved about pulley 252 keyed to shaft 254 and pulley 256 keyed to shaft 258. The upper or working stretch of belt 250 is supported by a bed plate 260. A plurality of cauls 262 may be carried on top of the belt.

Belt 250 is driven through a sprocket 264 keyed to shaft 258 and connected through chain 266 to drive motor 268.

Belt 250 may be synchronized with belt 32. To this end a sprocket 270 is keyed to shaft 254 and connected through chain 272 to sprocket 274 on the shaft of pulley 36 by means of which belt 32 is driven. In this manner the rates of travel of belts 32 and 250 may be maintained at any desired ratio to each other, so that the thickness of the felts deposited upon the belts can be maintained at the desired levels.

The action of felting unit 26 builds up on caul plates 262 carried by belt 250 of conveyor unit 28 a felt 276, the raw freshly-formed edge of which is inclined upwardly in the direction of travel of the belt, as is indi- The construction of this unit is illustratedV 6 cated in Fig. 1. It is an important attribute ofthe herein described lfelting yassembly that the felt can be formed1 in this manner since it avoids caving of the raw felt edge, and the formation of voids in the caved portion. This in turnproduces a uniform felt which leads to the pro-A duction of a uniform pressed product.

The surface of felt 276, however, is somewhat uneven and accordingly the felt is passed through a second leveling unit. Y

Second leveling unit The second leveling unit employed in the presently described felting `assembly is indicated generally at 30 in Fig. 1 and has for its function producing a felt of the desired thickness having a smooth, uniform surface. The construction and mode of operation of this leveling unit is indicated in Figs. 13 and 14.

From inspection of these figures, it will be observed that the construction of leveling unit 30 is similar insome respects to that of unit ,24. It dilers however inv the use of a toothed roll instead of an auger, and in the" provision of a vacuum hood for removal of the material which has been vscalped from the top of the felt bythe leveling roll.

However, as in the case of unit 24, leveling unit 30 includes a torsion bar 280 which extends entirely acrossV the unit and is rotatably mounted in bearings 281 xed to frame member 282, itbeing keptin mind that the construction of the unit is substantially symmetrical, so.

that ,the left-hand side, broken away in Fig. 13, is iden-` tical with that of the right-hand side which is illustrated.

Keyed to torsion bar 280 are hubs 283 on which areV mounted the deckel sections 284. These correspond in general to deckel sections 162 of unit 24, and like them may be set at predetermined distances apart from each other as required to dene mats of predetermined widths. Also, they are provided with marginal tracks 286 adapted to cooperate with complementary .tracks in the cutawayl portions of deckels 261. The lower portions of deckel sections 284 are provided with openings in which are mounted tubes 288.

Deckel sections 284 support a toothed shaving roll 290 in the following manner: plates 292 are bolted acrosspulley 304, both of these pulleys floating on the end ofv torsion rod 280. Pulley 304 is connected through belt 306 to pulley 308 of motor 310. Accordingly, it is rotated at a speed determined by the speed of the motor.

To elevate the shaving roll a predetermined distance above belt 250, a pinion gear 312 is keyed to the torsion bar. This gear meshes with a rack 314 contained in a guideway 316 mounted on structural member 318.

Rack 314 is coupled to 1a threaded shaft 320 which lies in threaded engagement with a sleeve 322. The latter is rotatably mounted in a bearing 324 and connected to a handwheel 326. Hence rotation of the handwheel secures longitudinal reciprocation of the rack 314 and rotation of pinion gear 312. This in turn rotates torsion bar 280, and, through the coupling action of deckelv section 284, swings toothed roll 290 in an arc, thereby raising or lowering it in respect to belt 250, as the case may be.

The material removed from the surface of felt 276 by the action of roll 290 is carried away by a vacuum hood 330 which is connected through a telescopic joint 332 to a conduit 3134. The latter communicates with a fan for inducing a vacuum in the hood. n

The lower open end of the hood is flared and directed toward toothed roll 290. It is provided with a flange 336 which moves in `a track formed by spaced track members 338, 340.

The entire hood assembly is supported .by a rod 342 which penetrates brackets 344 welded to the sides of the hood and is journaled in .bearings 346 which 4arepresent on `'the lowerend of Iarms 348. The'upper ends of these arms are provided with bearings 350 in which pins 352 are journaled. Accordingly, when torsion bar 2 80 is actuated and deckel sections -284 move angularly, hood 330 follows `along becauseof the impellir'rg` action of track members 338, 340 on hood ange 336. During this motion, the flange slips betweenthe track members as required to relieve any induced stress. Also, supporting arms 348 move in the manner ofA a pantograph, the sides ofthe parallelogram being formed by supports 348 as `the links on one side and the deckel sections 284 as the links on 4the other side. Y j

This adjustment can be made readily while beIt1250 and felt 276 thereon are Ain motion. Since ythe open mouthof hood 330 remains always immediately adjacent scalpingfroll 290, material removed from the felt is sucked up by the air stream passing through Athe openings between sleeve members 288 and plates 292, throughho'd 330 andthrough conduit j334. The solid particles their may be separated from the air stream in a cyclone or otherwise and returned to Vthe feed for recycling to. 'the infeed side of the apparatus.

Operation The operation of the herein described felting apparatus is vas follows:

Small pieces of material such as wood granules, chips or shavings are fed continuously on belt 50 from chute v66. The `material on the belt is swept oi onto belt32 'immediately below by rotary brush `92 the 'speedof rotation of the brush `being correlated with vthe linear movement of the belt so that a fresh charge of material is conveyed beneath the brush while the latter is making one revolution.

'Ihus the material is distributed on belt 32 between deckels 40-42. It next is leveled dif by means of leveling unit 24, the vworm members 124, 126 'of which are adjustable vertically by means of torsion rod 110 to which they are connected, so that a mat of any desired thickness may be formed. During vertical adjustment'of the worm members, the continuity of the deckels is maintained `bythe action of deckel sections 160, 162.

The leveled mat accordingly `affords a 'uniform feed source to be supplied to Afelting unit 26. As it falls downwardly on top of plate 210 thereof, 'it cascades over and between the succession of horizontally and vertically spaced plates immediately below, being dispersed by 'this action as Well as by the action of the angular-ly disposed plates 216 thereon.

As a'consequence, a continuous and uniform tlow of material falls downwardly 'from the 4felting unit onto the second conveying unit 28 which carries a succession 'of caul plates 262. There is built upon the 'caul plates a felt 276 of the particles, the freshly-formed edge of the felt having a gradual slope `to prevent caving and void formation.

This felt may be trimmed to any 'desired thickness `by leveling unit 30, the operation f'which is 'somewhatsir'nilar to that of unit 24. Toothe'd roll 290 of 'this un'it shaves from the mat the surplus materialfvvhich'then is carried away by vacuum hood 330. Vertical adjustment of the toothed roll is secured by means of torsion'bar 280 which, acting throughdeckel sections 284, 'moves 'the roll -and associated hood in an arc untilthe 'desired elevation has been attained. During this sequence, `deckel continuity is again maintained by the action of lthedeckel sections.

Accordingly, at the outfeed end'of theapparatus, 'there are discharged uniform, smooth-surfaced-feltsearried' on caul plates-262. `The felts-on the caul platesthen may be transferred to aepress` in. theu'sual imanner `and cconsoli dated to form the finished product.

It is to be understood that the form of 4our invention herein shown and described is to betaken as a .preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, `size and arrangement of parts maybe resortedfto without departing `from the spirit o'f our invention 'or the scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we Vclaim':

1. Felt :leveling apparatus comprising conveyor 'means adapted to convey a felt, a torsion bar mounted `above the conveyor means `transversely thereof, a motor driven leveling roll supported by the torsion barsubstantially parallel thereto and -a spaced distance towardthe felt therefrom, and means for rotating the torsion bar `by amounts `predetermined to adjust the space between the leveling roll yand the surface of the felt by desired increments.

2. Felt leveling apparatus 'comprising a Aconveyor adapted to convey va felt, a pairof deckel 'plates-mounted one on each side of the conveyor, each deckel plate including a section which is relatively movable with respect to the balance vof the plate in the plane thereof,aftorsion bar interconnecting the deckel plate sections, a motor driven leveling roll supported -by the Atorsion `bar substantiallyparallel thereto and a spaced distance therefromgfin the direction ofthe conveyor, and means for rotating the torsion bar by amounts predetermined to adjust the space between the leveling roll and the surface of the felt by desired increments, the ldeckel plate sections moving arcuately during such adjustment.

3. Felt leveling apparatus comprising a *conveyor adapted to conveya felt, a torsion bar Vrotatablymountel transversely of the felt, a motor driven leveling roll vsupported 4by the torsion `bar substantially `parallel lthereto anda spaced distance -below thesame, means for rotating the torsion bar by anamountpredetermined toadjust the space between the leveling roll -and -the felt by desired increments,and vacuum hood means coupled to the leveling roll for conveying away material removed lfrom the felt by 'the same.

4. Felt leveling apparatus comprising a conveyor adapted to convey a felt, a pair of deckle plates positioned one on each side of the conveyor, means `mounting the deckle plates for adjustment toward and away yfrom each other, each deckle plate -including asection which is frelatively rotatable with -respect to the balance of the plate in` the plane thereof, a torsion barinterconnecting the deckle plate sections, a motor driven leveling roll `supported by the torsion bar-substantially parallel thereto and a spaced distance 4therefrom in the direction of the conveyor, `the deckle -plate sections having openings therein for receiving the ends ofthe leveling roll therethrough for adjusting the spacing between the deckle plates, and means for rotating the torsion bar by amounts predetermined to adjust the space between the levelingr'olland the surfaceof the felt by desired increments, the `deckle `plate sections moving `arcuately `during such adjustment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including vacuum hood means positioned adjacent theleveling roll for conveying away material removed from the felt bythe same, and coupling means slidably interconnecting the vacuum hood means and the rotatable deckle sections.

6. Felting apparatus comprising conveyor means, `an oscillating shaker above the conveyor means and comprising a plurality of spaced substantially ihorizontal plates offset from each other vertically and horizontally, and feed means above the shaker for `feeding small `pieces -of fibrous material `to the latter, the pieces discharged -onto the shaker cascading downwardly over the plates, thereby being separated and -disbursed onto `the conveyor-means.

7. iFelting `apparatus comprising conveyor means, -Yfeed means for feeding fibrous material to the conveyorrmea'ns, leveling means comprising a `torsion bar "mounted transversely of the conveyor means, a leveling `roll `supported by the bars substantially parallel thereto Aa spaced distance therefrom in the directionof theconveyor means,

and means for rotating the torsion bar by Aamounts predetermined to adjust the space between the leveling roll and the surface of the fibrous material by a desired incremenft.

8. Felting apparatus comprising conveyor means, feed means for feeding small pieces of fibrous material to the conveyor means, and a combination deckle and adjustable leveling means for retaining the pieces of material on the conveyor means and leveling the surface of the same, the deelde including a movable section connected to the adjustable leveling means and movable during adjustment of the leveling means to maintain continuity of deckle.

9. Felting apparatus comprising conveyor means, feed means for feeding small pieces of fibrous material to the conveyor means, and a combination deckle and adjustable leveling means comprising a pair of `deckle plates mounted one on each side of the conveyor means, each deckle plate including a section which is relatively movable with respect to the balance of the plate in the plane of the plate, a torsion bar interconnecting the two sections, a motor driven leveling roll supported by the torsion bar swbstantially parallel thereto a spaced distance therefrom in the direction of the conveyor means, and means for adjusting the torsion bar by amounts predetermined to vary the space Ibetween the leveling roll and the surface of the material on the conveyor means by a desired increment, the ydeckle plate sections moving arcuately during such adjustment.

10. Felting `apparatus comprising conveyor means, feed means for feeding fibrous material to the conveyor means, leveling means comprising a torsion bar mounted transversely of the conveyor means, a motor driven felt leveling roll supported by the torsion lbar substantially parallel thereto at a spaced distance below the same, means for rotating the torsion bar by an amount predetermined to adjust the space between the leveling means and the felt by a desired increment, and vacuum hood means coupled to the leveling roll for conveying away material removed from the felt.

lfl. Felting apparatus comprising first conveyor means, distribution means positioned for distributing small pieces of fibrous material on the rst conveyor means, felting means positioned adjacent the irst conveyor means for receiving pieces Idischarged therefrom, second conveyor means positioned adjacent the felting means for receiving pieces `discharged therefrom, thereby forming a felt of the pieces on the second conveyor means, and a combination adjustable deckle and leveling means associated with yat least one of said conveyor means for retaining the pieces of material thereon and leveling the surface of the same.

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